We will be welcoming the 'Rise of the Roses' tour on Saturday 20th June 2015.

Adoration Sisters with Meabh Carlin & Sr Lindsay

Watch for details.

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About Us | What are we about?

Mother Marie Thérèse 1809 - 1863

Foundress of the Adoration Sisters

Brief History

The Adoration Sisters were founded in Paris in 1848 by Théodelindé Dubouche who is known now as Mother Marie Thérèse. The congregation came to Belfast in 1980 before founding St Aidan’s Monastery in Ferns, Co Wexford in 1990.

“The whole meaning of our existence is found in the Bread of Life and the Word of Life.”

As a community, we bake, cut and distribute the altar bread, a joyful and sacred task that we regard as an extension of our mission: perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The whole process in St Joseph’s House of Bread is a prayerful one and the sisters, bakers and volunteers share a love of the Lord and of the Eucharist. Aware that the bread is to be consecrated, we recall Jesus’ words in John 6: “I am the bread of life.” Prayers are offered for all those who will receive the bread when it is consecrated and for those priests and lay people who are distributing it. The work is offered up for the intentions of those who ask for prayer. And, in this year of consecrated life, we have been praying especially for all priests and religious, for vocations and renewal , and that the Joy of the Gospel will take root in every heart.

The revenue generated from the supply of altar breads is our main source of income and enables the Community to continue our mission. It also helps us to support other Christian groups who use the Adoration Chapel.

Mass Times/Opening Hours

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration

(24 hours a day 7 days a week)

Chapel Opening Hours

Daily 6.00am - Midnight.

(After Midnight by appointment)

Daily Timetable

Monday - Friday

All welcome to join us in the Chapel for prayers

7.00am morning prayer/Office of Readings

11.40am midday prayer

12.00 noon Holy Mass

6.00pm Evening Prayer *

8.30pm Rosary*

9.00pm Night Prayer *

*(Inc weekend, )

“To adore is to love...”

“To adore is to love...”

Mother Marie Thérèse

“Freedom makes me faithful...”

“Freedom makes me faithful...”

Mother Marie Thérèse

"You are My well-beloved; I have chosen you.

These two drops of blood from

My lips, I give them to you for sinners.”

"You are My well-beloved; I have chosen you.

These two drops of blood from

My lips, I give them to you for sinners.”

Words of Jesus to Mother Marie Thérèse

"Receive my life and communicate my life to others...”

"Receive my life and communicate my life to others...”

Words of Jesus to Mother Marie Thérèse

Belfast | Also in Paris & Ferns.

Visitors to the Chapels of Adoration, whether in France or Ireland, seeing the adorers steeped in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, want to know more about the Adoration Sisters and ask: What is their work? Their life? Why are they there?

One way of answering those questions is to turn to the life of the Foundress, and discover through the workings of God in her soul, what His plan for her life was, how He shaped her, and used her as an instrument for the founding of a New Family in the Church.

Our Foundress | Marie-Thérèse.

Venerable Mother Marie-Thérèse Dubouche (1809-1863)

Foundress of the Sisters of the Sisters of Adoration and Reparation

Mother Marie-Thérèse was born into a middle class family in 1809 in France. Her family were nominal Catholics and critical of religion. Despite these difficult beginnings, Mother Marie-Thérèse grew in love and devotion of her Catholic faith. Ultimately her perseverance and prayers helped to completely restore her family to the Catholic faith.

Mother Marie-Thérèse was a gifted artist and in her youth went with her family to Paris to develop her painting. She experienced Parisian life and held worldly ambitions herself. However, she was also keenly aware of God and in time directed all her thoughts and efforts towards achieving personal sanctity and Eternal success.

Théodelinde Dubouché 1809 - 1863

Mother Marie-Thérèse had developed a deep love of the true presence of God in the Blessed Sacrament and spent many hours in prayer. In 1847 after a long time absorbed in her prayer she received a vision of the Holy Face of Christ crowned with thorns, suffering and bloodied but divinely beautiful. The Lord let drop on her lips two drops of blood from His own lips. In this vision Jesus told her: “You are My well beloved; I have chosen you. These two drops of blood from My lips I give them to you for sinners.”

This vision became imprinted on her heart and remained with her throughout her life. This special grace was to be forever associated with the Adoration Sisters and the beautiful vision was captured on canvas in 1853 by Mother Marie-Thérèse and is cherished by her daughters and all who see it.

Mother Marie-Thérèse had at this time taken steps to enter religious life and the enclosure of Carmel when she received a divine mission from Our Lord. While in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the early hours of the Feast of the Sacred Heart on 30th June 1848, she saw Jesus enthroned upon the altar and a golden stream flowed from His Heart into hers, a flood of divine life. Jesus made this divine request of Mother Marie-Thérèse:

“I wish for Adoration and Reparation to appease the justice of my Father….there must be a religious consecration. There must be souls always before me to receive my life. I shall put into their hearts a golden stream, even as I have just done for you, and they must communicate this life that I shall give them to souls who are Mine in the world….”

From that moment onwards Mother Marie-Thérèse saw clearly the work of the future Congregation. Weeks later on 6th August 1848 on the Feast of the Transfiguration, Mother Marie-Thérèse and her first daughters dedicated themselves to a life of love and sacrifice: a Eucharistic life of perpetual adoration and reparation of which the Blessed Sacrament was the centre and the source. The Sisters of Adoration and Reparation were born.

Ferns | A place of quiet retreat.

“I will search in the silence for your hiding place…”

Experience the silence and solitude of 6th and 7th Century Ireland in the comfort of modern living at St Aidan’s Monastery. Our individual stone hermitages are available all year round in our convent grounds, established in 1990 on the site of the old Roman Catholic Church in Ferns (built 1826). Our chapel offers perpetual adoration, a chance to experience silent prayer and contemplation.

Located in sunny southeast, in the tranquillity of County Wexford, Ferns is a warm and friendly village with many places of interest and local attractions which include walking, horse-back riding and storytelling.

Ferns, Co. Wexford, Ireland

Services available at Ferns

PRAYER

There is a fourteen hour rota of prayer every day in which retreatants can take part. It is a prayer of Adoration and Reparation, in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament – a time for drawing life from the source of the Eucharist, and giving that life to others. As well as being silent intercession for the world in all its beauty and fragility, it can be a time of intercession for individuals – family members, friends, neighbours, and those who have gone before us.

Divine Office is celebrated four times each day. By letting ourselves be transfigured by prayer, we hope to become a real presence for others.

RETREATS

Hermitages are available for silent retreats, or simply as spaces of peace and quiet where people can rest. This could be for single days, weekends or longer. Retreatants can avail of spiritual direction and/or listening presence. They can also avail of the Resource Room where books and spiritual conferences on DVD are at their disposal.

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Discernment | Join us.

“We had seen His Majesty for ourselves…” 2 Peter 1:16

The Latin word “discernere” means to separate or to sift apart. Hearing God’s voice and discerning it from all others is made easier through prayer and sacraments, reading of scripture, and the good counsel we can give each other in the Holy Spirit.

Wisdom in life is gained through experience. Perhaps you feel called to be a religious sister? If you are drawn to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and attracted by the joy of the hidden life of Nazareth, then contact us.